(2 March) The IDF continued its anti-terror operations in the PLO-controlled Balata suburb of Shechem, east of Raanana, and in a neighborhood of Jenin, east of Hadera, over the Shabbat. Going from house to house in Balata, soldiers conducted searches and discovered a Kassam missile factory with one missile ready-for-launch and more that were just completed yesterday. In one house soldiers discovered several materials to build explosive devices. Also, a car packed with explosive belts and an apartment with ready-for-use bombs were discovered. In the course of the operation, the IDF encountered resistance resulting in some 30 Arabs killed and over 200 hundred wounded.
Ya\'akov Avni, 20, from Kiryat Ata, was killed Friday when an Arab sniper in Jenin shot from the window of a house, injuring him in the neck. Avni was a soldier in the Golani Brigade.
Also on Friday, an IDF captain from the 51st Golani brigade was wounded in the head. He remains in critical condition at Ramban Hospital in Haifa.
During the operations, soldiers demolished the home of Nasser Awais, head of the Al-Aqsa Brigade, the military wing of the Fatah terrorist group. Awais is responsible for organizing and implementing the Feb 19th Ein Arik attack, in which 6 IDF soldiers were killed. After carrying out the attack, Awais immediately fled to safe haven in Balata.
The IDF completed operations and pulled out of Jenin earlier tonight. However, the IDF spokesman says operations will continue in Balata. According to Colonel Aviv Cochavi, “We will enter every crevice, even if we have to break down walls to do so.\"
Ya\'akov Avni, 20, from Kiryat Ata, was killed Friday when an Arab sniper in Jenin shot from the window of a house, injuring him in the neck. Avni was a soldier in the Golani Brigade.
Also on Friday, an IDF captain from the 51st Golani brigade was wounded in the head. He remains in critical condition at Ramban Hospital in Haifa.
During the operations, soldiers demolished the home of Nasser Awais, head of the Al-Aqsa Brigade, the military wing of the Fatah terrorist group. Awais is responsible for organizing and implementing the Feb 19th Ein Arik attack, in which 6 IDF soldiers were killed. After carrying out the attack, Awais immediately fled to safe haven in Balata.
The IDF completed operations and pulled out of Jenin earlier tonight. However, the IDF spokesman says operations will continue in Balata. According to Colonel Aviv Cochavi, “We will enter every crevice, even if we have to break down walls to do so.\"